Bicycle.



No. 737,017. PATENTED AUG 25, 1903.

' A. F. PRICE.

BICYCLE.

APPLIOATION rum) mo. '1, 1896.

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' UNITED STATES I'atented August 25, I903. PATENT OFFICE.

ABEL F. PRICE, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,017, dated August25, 1903. Application filed December '7, 1896. .Serial No. 614,805. (Nomodel.)

To a, wlwnt it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABEL F. PRICE, a surgeon in the United States Navy,stationed at United States Navy Yard, New York city, New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles; and I do,

hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and to the letters of reference markedthereon.

This invention relates to improvements in bicycles, and particularly tothe driving mechanism; and the invention consists in certain noveldetails of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, allas will be now described, and pointed out particularly in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa bicycle embodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection taken transversely through the gearing at one side of the hub ofthe driver. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, with a portionof the frame broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation showingthe hanger and bearing for one of the levers. Figs. 5 and 6 are detailelevations of modifications of the foot-lever.

Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the sameparts.

The wheelA and framing of the bicycle may be of any ordinary type,although I prefer to employ a triangular frame-that is to say, onehaving a substantially vertical part B extending up from the drive-wheeland horizontal and diagonal braces 13 B extending from opposite ends ofthe vertical portion to the steering-head B The latter is preferably setat such an angle to the center of the steering-wheel and the forks areso curved as to give the wheel a tendency to stand in the plane ofmovement of the' machine, or, in other words, the center of rotation ofthe steering-wheel is in rear of the axis of the steering-head, all asshown clearly in Fig. 1.

From Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that frame B-is provided with abearing or forging, one on each side, and in these forgings the cups orraceways D for the balls (I, sup porting the axle A of the drive-wheel,are formed. The axle extends through the ballbearing and at each end isprovided with a pinion E, preferably formed with a relatively Arelatively large wheel or disk G is journaled in the frame in proximityto the bearing for the axle in a manner to be presently described. Thisdisk has an annular raceway or groove f, in which the head 6 of thepinion travels, and along its edge I form a series of rollerantifriction-teeth g, which mesh with the teeth of the pinion. When thewheel G is turned, obviously it will rotate the drivewheel axle anddrive-wheel, and in order to make provision for allowing of the use of alarger or smaller wheel, and thereby vary the speed of rotation of theground-wheel, I mount the axle F, carrying the wheel, in ballbearings ina box H. The box II is in turn held in an open bearing on the frameformed by arms I, projecting from the box or bearing in which thedrive-wheel turns. It is preferably held against upward movement by across-bolt K, passing through suitable openings 7c in the arms I andthrough openings k in arms 70 on the box. The openings 70 may be locatedin proper position to hold gears of certain definite size, and therebypermit of the ready substitution of gears at any time.

When the bolt is removed, the wheel may be,

ond or brace projection or projections 0, ex-

tending out over-the projection N and having a threaded aperture in linewith the latter. Passing through this threaded aperture is theadjustable cone 1, forming with the projection N an adjustable racewayfor the balls 0 of the bearing M on the foot-lever. The adjustable coneis provided with a projection m, fitting in the recess in the end of theprojection N to steady the cone, and it is held rigidly in its adjustedposition by an annular jam-nut M screwing against the adjustable cone.Both the jam-nut and adjustable cone are preferably cut away centrallyfor the application of an internal wrench, as shown clearly in Fig. 4.In supporting these footlevers in their bearings it has been one of myprincipal objects to secure what might be termed a balanced leverthat isto say, a lever which if left free would exert an equal weight on eachside of its pivotal support when at an intermediate point half-waybetween the extremes of its motion. In the preferred construction (shownin Fig. 1) the levers are pivoted at a point above and slightly forwardof the bearings for the drive wheel, and if left free would hangpendulously, with their forward ends or pedals at a point half-waybetween the extremes of its movements, and for engagement with thefoot-levers I preferably provide crank projections G, havingantifriction-rollers thereon, on the wheel G and form slot-bearings inthe rear arms of the foot-levers, in which the antifriction-rollersplay, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Figs. 1, 2, 5,and 6. The particular location for the pivot for the foot-levers is notessential, however, as they may be pivoted directly forward of thedrive-wheel axle, as shown in Fig. 5, or forward and below the same, asshown in Fig. 6; but in order to secure the best results the pivotalcenter of the foot-levers, the center of the drive-wheel axle, and thecenter of the gear-wheel should always be in alinement. Thus the bearingon the foot lever works across the center of the axle, and by pivotingthe foot-levers at a point relatively close to the gearing theadvantages of an increased leverage and a long efieotive stroke aresecured. With such an arrangement it will be seen that on the downwardmovement the pedal exerts a rotating influence on the crank projectionthroughout a greater extent of its movement than a half-rotation, andwhen one pedal has descended to its lowermost position, as shown in Fig.1, the other pedal has already begun its descent, as illustrated by thefull lines, thereby eliminating the dead-center and enabling the riderto apply effective power at practically every point in the rotation ofthe crank, The dotted pedal in this figure indicates the upper 'extrememovement of the lever.

While I prefer to employ the annular groove finthe large gear-wheel andthe bead 6 on the pinion, it is obvious that inasmuch as the largegear-wheel is held rigidly in place these featuresmay be omitted.

The invention may be applied to other vehicles adapted to be propelledby foot-power, and hence in using the term bicycle it will be understoodthat it is simply for convenience in designating the class offoot-propelled vehicles.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In abicycle, the combination with the drive-wheel its shaft having a pinionthereon, of the frame, the bearing in said frame in which the shaft isjournaled, the arms on the frame forming an open bearing, the relativelylarge driving-gear meshing with the pinion, the box supporting said gearheld in said open bearing and having enlargements on opposite ends toprevent tilting and the transverse bolt passing through the arms of thebearing and through the box whereby the gear is held in its adjustedposition; substantially as described. 7

2. In a bicycle, the combination with the drive-wheel and its shafthaving the pinion thereon, of the frame the bearing in said frame inwhich the shaft is journaled, the arms on the frame projecting below theshaftbearing, forming an open bearing and having a series of transversebolt-openings therein, the relatively large driving-gear meshing withthe pinion, the journal-box carrying the said gear mounted in said openbearing and having enlargements to prevent tilting and the transversebolt for holding the gear in its adjusted position passing through oneof said transverse openings and through said box; substantially asdescribed.

3. In a bicycle, the combination with the drive-wheel, the frame and thefoot-lever rotating the drive-wheel, of the bracket or projection on theframe having its end recessed and carrying the fixed cone, thebrace-bracket on the frame having the aperture in line with the axis ofthe fixed cone, the adjustable cone passing through said aperture andhaving the projection entering the recess in the firstmentioned bracket,the lock for holding the adjustable cone and the bearing on thefootlever held by the said cones, substantially as described.

- ABEL F. PRICE. Witnesses:

JOHN D. MCOAFFREY,

JAMES J. GILL.

ICO

